Elements of Hindu Iconography v4.c32.36

v4.c32.36

The next plate, (Pl. CXLVIII) contains the photographs of the front, back and the side views of a very beautiful figure of Brahmā; they were supplied to me by the Superintendent of Archæology of the Western Circle. This figure of Brahmā is peculiar in that it has only two arms instead of four as required by the *āgamas*: the right one of these is held bent with the palm turned inwards. What this hand-pose indicates is not plain. The other arm is also bent and is carrying a *kamaṇḍalu*, whose neck alone now remains in the sculpture. On the heads are *jaṭāmakuṭas* and the underwear is a fine cloth whose folds and creases are beautifully arranged by the artist. On the left shoulder is thrown in an artistic manner a deer-skin, the head and forelegs of the deer being well visible in the side view. On the whole this piece of old sculpture is an excellent specimen of the art of India.